Electric heater



c. A. XARDELL. ELECTRIC HEATER.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. l2. i920.

Patented Aug. 2, 1921.

Men?? Zarka axardel,

UNlTED STATES ermee,

CHRLESA. XARDELL, OF UTICA, NEW YORK.

ELECTRIC HEATER.

Specification yof Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 2, 1921.

Application filed October 12, 1920. Serial No. 416,524.

. Electric Heaters, ofwhich the following .is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to electric vradiator heaters and has i'or its object to provide a heater of this class which is self-regulating and which will be economical in use, as will hereinafter more fhully appear. The present invention is an lmprovement on the invention covered by my U. S. Patent No. 1,350,586, and has for its object to adapt the invention of said patent to radiators at present in use.

The accompanying drawing illustrates the present invention partly in section and partly in elevation. l

Referring to the drawing, 12 denotes a radiator body which may be of any desiredA size or which may consist of any desired number of sections. Located at one side of' the base of said radiator is a liquid-tight receptacle 13 connected by a pipe 13a with the said radiator, the chambers of the sections of which thus communicate with the chamber of said receptacle which has a normally closed opening 14 through which it may be filled or emptied, the said receptacle being preferably supported by legs 15. Within the receptacle 13 are the electrodes or heating elements 16 of any suitable re sistance material, these heating elements Vbeing in the form of plates embedded in an insulating material or compound 17 which is heat and moisture proof. The electrodes have exposed upper surfaces which may be flush with or slightly above the upper surface of the insulating material. This insulating compound may consist of porcelain, lava, or mica, or other similar substance, which can readily be molded to it the interior of the receptacle 13. The electrodes 16 lare provided with depending parts18 extending downward through the insulating material 17 and with which parts 18 the electric conductors 19, extending to any suitable source of supply for electric current, are connected.

The receptacle 13 is provided at one end with anozzle 20 the end of which is closed by a glass disk 21 held in place by a screw cap 2% provided with a central opening so that the level of the liquid in the receptacle may' be readily seen through'the said glass disk.

When the heater is to be operated the cap 23, closing the opening 14, will be removed,

and a suitable quantity of water will be introduced into the receptacle 13, the depth of the water being readily observed through the glass disk 21.` The receptacle 13 will be supplied with a greater or lesser quantity of water according to the amount of heat which may be desirable to generate. It, for example, a depth of one quarter of an inch of water over the insulating compound 17 will, when evaporated to practical dryness, give a steam pressure of 10 pounds per square inch, it will be understood that a greater or lesser quantity of water introduced into the receptacle 13 will result in the generation of, a greater or lesser steam pressure, and more or less heat, as may be desired.

V'Vhen the electric current is turned on the resulting heat will serve to evaporate. the water and produce a. steam pressure in the radiator and this pressure and heat will continue until the water has been evaporated. The electric communication between the electrodes 16, to close the circuit, isestablished by the liquid in the rece-ptacle 13, and when the liquid is all evaporated the circuit is opened and the heating operation is interrupted. The liquid, through which the current passes, serves to some extent as a resistance or rheostat in generating heat. When the circuit is opened communication will commence and lthe condensed steam in the form of liquid accumulating in the lower part of the radiator 12 will be returned to the receptacle 13, thus again closing the cir-v cuit and the condensed liquid will then be immediately again evaporated, thus keeping the heat and steam pressure practically constant at any desired point which may be predetermined by the amount of water introduced into the receptacle 13.

When the heater is first started into operation and the room or apartment to be warmed is quite cold,` condensation of the y l liquid in the radiator will proceed rapidly, and after the circuit has been broken by the evaporation oi' the liquid it will be quickly closed again and the heating operation resumed. l Thus the current will be flashed on again quickly, after the circuit has been opened, when the temperature of the room or apartment to be heated is low, 'but as the temperature of the room or apartment rises the interruptions and resumptions of the electric current will occur less frequently and no current will be used except as may be required.

t will thus be seenA that the invention provides an economical self-regulating electric heater adapted to be applied to radiators at present in use, and which is capable of generating any desired degree of heat as may be predetermined by the amount ot' water introduced into the liquid tight receptacle which communicates with the radiator elements of the heater.

Having thus described my invention l claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent: An electric heater comprising a radiator having a plurality of sections, combined with a liquid tight receptacle outside of and near the base of said radiator and with which saidradiator sections communicate, `said receptacle having a normally closed filling opening, insulating material in said receptacle, electrodes embedded in said insulating material and having exposed surfaces, and suitable electric connections to said electrodes, the electric communication between said electrodes, to vary the heat to be generated, being governed by the amount of liquid in said receptacle, so that when the liquid is entirely evapo 1ated the current is interrupted until the circuit is again closed by condensation.

In testimony whereof I aiix my signature CHARLES A. XARDELL. 

